Turntable conveyer



Jan. 11, 1955 K; M. WHITE 2,699,247

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K.' M, WHITE TURNTABLE CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug` 7, 1953 INVENTOR. /fE/v/VETH /W [fl/Hin; BY ,v

ATTORNEYS' Jam 11, 1955 K.' M. wl-uTE TURNTABLE coNvEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 7, 1953 INVENTUR. /fE/VNETHMM//T ATTORNEYS.

`ferred to a cooling conveyor.

6 Claims. (Cl. 198--33) This inventionrelates to a turntable conveyor and while it is susceptible `to numerous applications, it is particularly suitable for use in handling of hot packs of sheets as rolled on S-high mills.

After the pack has passed through the mill on its iinal pass, it moves on a run-out table and must then be transp It is often a matter of convenience to turn the packs so that they move over the cooling conveyor broadside rather than lengthwise. However, the packs pass through the mill lengthwise and if it is desired to move them broadside for cooling, means `must be provided to turn the packs through 90 and transfer them from one conveyor to another.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, `it is an object of the present invention to provide an organization including a conveyor `for moving an object, which may through an arc of 90 and means for transferring the object from the turntable conveyor to a further conveyor which may be a cooling conveyor) onwhich the object `is moved broadside.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide a `mechanism for causing the organization to operate automatically with the object itself initiating the various objects of the apparatus.

`be a pack, longitudinally, means for rotating the table These and various other objects of the invention, which will be set forth. in greater detail hereinafter or which `will be apparent to one skilled in the art, upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which: Figure l is a general plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view .similar to Figure l showing the relationship of the turntable conveyor to the longitudinal conveyor and the broadside conveyor.

Figure 3 is an elevational view as seen from the bottom of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure l showing the table rotated through 90.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken one the line 6 6 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram.

Briefly. in the practiceof my invention and particularly with reference to Figure 2, l provide a turntable conveyor indicated generally at 10 disposed in alignment with a longitudinal conveyor 11 and centrally aligned with a run-off or broadside conveyor 12. An object 13,`

which may be a pack of hot-rolled sheets issuing from its last pass in a mill, passes longitudinally over the conveyor 11 onto the turntable 10. Automatic means initiated by the pack are provided to cause the table 10 to rotate about an axis 14 to the position shown in broken lines. Other automatic means are provided to operate a transfer mechanism to transfer the pack 13 onto the conveyor 12 whereupon other automatic means initiate movement of the conveyor 12and cause the turntable conveyor 10 to return to its solid line position.

The turntable conveyor. generally speaking, comprises a framework 15 mounted for rotation about a vertical pivot on the axis 14. This pivot may comprise a co1- umn 16 (Figure 4). The various details of construction of the turntable conveyor do not form a part of United States Patent() slide broadside onto the cooling conveyor 12.

2,699,247 Patented Jan. 11, 1955 ice tail. As is well understood in the art, it may be provided with usual stops and guides if desired.

Secured to the turntable conveyor or to its column 16 is a lever arm 17 by means of which the table may be turned. A motor 18 drives a crank 19 through a speed reducer 20. The crank 19 comprises two arms extending equal distances on either side of the axis 21 of the speed reducer output shaft. To one end of the crank 19 is secured a link 22, which link at its other end is secured to the lever arm 17. It will be observed that in the position of Figure 1 the length of the lever arm 17 plus the length of the link 22 are greater than the distance between the axes 14 and 21 plus the throw of the crank 19. Similarly, in the position of Figure 5, the length of the link 22 plus the throw of the crank 19 is less than the distance between the pivot axes 14 and 21 plus the length of the lever arm 17. Therefore, continued rotation of the crank 19 in a continuous direction produces an oscillation of the lever arm 17'. The length of the various arms and their positions are selected in such a manner that at one dead-center position of the crank 19 the conveyor 10 is in one of its two positions and at the other dead-center position the conveyor is in its other position removed from its first position.

As best seen in Figure 3, a lever 23 is pivoted at 24 on the conveyor 10 in a position that it can be actuated by an object passing over the conveyor 10. Movement of the lever 23 through a linkage 25, 26 actuates a switch 27 which is operatively connected to the motor 18 to start the turntable.

Secured to a frame element 28 is a switch 29, positioned to be actuated by elements 30 and 31 depending from the crank 19 at diametrically opposed points. The switch 29 is of the type which makes one contact in one position and another when it is thrown to the other position (see Figure 7). Thus, when the turntable has rotated 90 from its position by actuation of the switch 27, the turntable will be stopped when the next of the elements 3i) or 31 actuates the switch 29 to throw it to i its other position.

For the purpose of transferring the pack or other object from the turntable conveyor to the broadside conveyor, there is mounted parallel to the conveyor 10 a rock shaft 32. This rock shaft carries a number of transfer arms 33, the arms of which may be at a slight angle to each other, as best seen in Figures 4 and 6. A rocker arm 34 is secured to the rock shaft 32 and the rocker arm 34 is secured by a link 35 to an actuating bearing 36 which is pivoted at 37. Mounted beneath the conveyor 10 is atiixed abutment 38 (Figures 4 and 5) and it will be clear that as the conveyor 10 approaches `its position of Figure 5, an end of the actuator bearing 36 abuts the abutment 38 causing the bearing 36 to pivot about its axis 37, thus pulling on the link 35 and through it on the rocker arm 34, causing the rock shaft 32 to rock and move the members 33 to the position of Figure 6, lifting the pack off the conveyor 10 and causing it to It will be understood that as soon as the turntable starts to return to its initial position, the transfer mechanism returns to its original position by gravity.

Associated with the cooling conveyor or broadside conveyor is an arrangement best seen in Figure 3. This comprises a pair of levers 40, 41 arranged for movement together about an axis 42. A cam element 43 is arranged upon movement in a counterclockwise direction of the arm 40 to actuate a switch 44. The switch 44 is operatively connected to an electric motor (not shown) for driving the conveyor 12 and it will therefore be clear that as the pack is transferred into the conveyor 12 depressing the lever 40, the conveyor 12 starts to operate. The lever 40 will not returnto the position of Figure 3 until the trailing edge of the pack clears it.

The arm 41 has a finger 45 mounted thereon so4 that it may yield rockingly in a clockwise direction against the tension of the spring 46. The finger 45 actuates a switch 47 to initiate action of the motor 18. As the lever 40 is depressed by a pack, the lever 41 also rocks in a counterclockwise direction and the finger 45 yields to pass the switch actuating lever. When the trailing edge ofthe pack clears the' lever 40 so that it returns to the position-of Figure `3,l the ,--nger- `45 Yactuatesthe` switch.

47. The switch 47 again.. establishes a circuit-to .the motor 18 to start the turntable on its return oscillation. Theoscillation of the. turntablewilly of course .stopwhen thernextonefof they elements or 31 throwsmthe switch 29.

Therwiring ,diagram of Figure7 shows `the sheets with the-machine attest-before Va packYcontacts-the lever 23. 1

It will be=observedthat when thetswitch 27 .is closed a circuit` is established throughthe switch .29 to theV motor 1.8 andthat this circuity is broken when the switch 29 istl1rown yto its other position. l However, in the other position the switch 29 :is ready to complete acircuit to the motor when the switch47 is closed. Since as soon as the-,switch 27 Aisclosed and the turntable begins to move, the lever 2.6; moves out ofcontact with. the actuating lever of theswitch 27 and a holding circuit lis provided for the an arcaof lsubstantiallyV 90 and deliver said object broady.

side in-the same direction, comprising a conveyor element Ymounted on a vertical pivot axis, a lever arm iixed to said element, a motor driven crank disposed ona vertical axis adjacent said element, said crank extending diametrically across its own axis, a link` connecting ana end of said crank with said lever, a switch actuating member on each end of said crank, anda switch disposed to be actuated by said actuating members in turn,

said switch being operatively connected to said motor to stopy the same after 180 rotation of said crank, the relative positions of said crank and lever being such that V180" rotation of said` crank produces 90 arcuate movement of said lever, whereby said crankrotates in a single'direction in 180 stops, while said turntable oscillates through 90 of arc.

2. A turntable conveyor adapted to receive an object delivered'thereonto longitudinally, and to tunrn through anarc ofvsubstantially 90 and deliver said object broadside in the same direction, comprising a conveyor element mounted on a vertical pivot axis, a lever arm fixed to saidl element, va motor driven crank'disposed on a vertical vaxis adjacent said element, said crank extending diametrically across its own axis, a link connecting one end of said crank with said lever, a switch actuating memberron each end of saidcrank, and a switch/ disposed to befactuated by said actuating members in turn, said switch being` operatively connected to said motor to'stop the same after 180 rotation of said crank, the length of.. said: lever arm plus the length of said link being greater Vvthan the distance between said pivotaxis and said crank axis plus one-half the throw of said crank, andthe length of said link minus the length of said lever arm being greater than the distance between said pivot axis and Asaid crank axis minus one-half the throw of -saidcrank,l whereby said crank rotates in a singlevdiv rectionvin l80 stops, while said turntable oscillates through 90 of arc.

3l -Infa turntable conveyor having means to oscillate it about a vertical axis-from a longitudinal receiving position to abroadside discharging position, a longitudinal rock shaftmounted on and parallel to said conveyor, a

plurality of V-shaped arms xed to said rock shaft with oneVa-rrnwofw each of. saidwllsr lying. acrosssaidrconveyor below the pass line and the other arm of each of said Vs extending outward and upward, a rocker arm secured to said rock shaft for rocking the same, a linkage for actuating said rocker arm, and a xed abutment engaged by said linkage yatrsaidbroadside discharging position, rocking said rock shaft to tilt said V-shaped arms to raise an object .on'sa'id couveyor'andy cause it to slide ofr' on said outwardly ,extending arms.

4: In a f turntable 'conveyor havingmeans' lto 'oscillate it about a vertical -axis--from a longitudinalV receiving-position to a broadside discharging position, a longitudinal rock .shaftrrnounted on .and parallel to `said conveyor, a plurality of V-shaped arms fixed to said rock' shaft with one arm of eaclrfosaidt Vsslyin-gtacrosssaid conveyor below the pass line and the other arm of each of said Vs extending outward and upward, a rocker arm secured to said `roclcshaft for ,rocking the1'.same, and .-meansfoperativel as said turntabley conveyor.. reaches. its.;broads ide discharging :position 1 for actuating -said rock shaft .to .tilt

said V-shaped arms to raise an V,object onnsaid .conveyor and --causefit to slideolonsaid-outwardly: extending arms.

5. In combination with a yconveyor forimoving :arrobject endwise. ,in a given,` direction, .and a conveyor-,for moving such object `broadsidein the. same directionfa turntable betweeny said conveyors. .arranged ,for oscillating movement about a vertical axis through; an..arc of substantiallyf?, motive meansufor said turntable, switch means at the. advance Aend of said turntable positioned to be actuated by-they leading endof an object ,to tenergize saidsmotivemeansto. turn. saidturntable -a limit switch-for deenergizing` said ,motive.means., when said table,.,has..turned through. an arc fof substantially, 90?, transfermeans associated.` with said turntable ,to Vtransfer an objecttrom said.turntable onto said ,broadside `conveyor,a linkage, for. actuatingsaid transfer.means,.and cam means for actuating said linkagesubstantiallyat the completionrvof Asaid 90k turn, and.switchmeansxassoci ated withsaid broadside.,conveyor:.and actuatedbythc trailingend oftan object onvsaid broadsideconveyonto energize said motive means to return said .turntable tofits starting position, ,t

6. In combination,.fa conveyor. for moving Ianobject endwisein a given direction;1 a conveyorformoving such object broadside in thewsame direction,` a turntablebetween said conveyorsarrangedfor oscillating movement about a vertical axis throughanarc of .substantially 90, a lever .arm secured to .said turntable, a linkand acrank for oscillating said turntable, motive meanstourotate saidcrank in a single direction, .switchmeansarranged foractuation by saidcrank at the end ,of each of rotation switch` means. onfsaid turntable .arranged to .be

" actuated. by theleadingedge of .anobject when saidobject ,is completely lsupported fon.. said turntable,4 for :energizing said motive means, said crank-actuatedswitch means. serving to v deenergize said.. .motive meansfafter said crank has rotated 180, driving means fork said broadside conveyor, -switch meansfor saiddriving means, an actuator for said last mentionedtswitch means, torenergize said .driving means whenanobject starts .ontosaid broadside conveyor and contacts, said Aactuator,:andother switch means for energizingsaid motivemeans, said1other switch means being operated by saidactuator when'said object breaks contact with said actuatonto Iproduce return movement of said turntable to starting position.

No references, cited. 

